Preisaitė Philipp Percussomnia is a Copenhagen-based duo of Lithuanian pianist-sound artist Gintė Preisaitė, focusing on the prepared piano, and German drummer-percussionist Jan Philipp (who collaborated before with Preisaitė in the Treen trio with sax player Amalie Dahl). The duo releases its debut EP Swampdyb on its newly founded label Pà and describes their freely improvised music as intuitive rhythmical flux made out of dozens of percussive and multi-pitched sound events.

Swampdyb offers two pieces «Swamp» and «Dyb». Preisaitė Philipp Percussomnia offers a spontaneous, collaborative blend of pitched and percussive sounds where fleeting rhythmic patterns evolve into layered, acoustic melodic loops, ranging from deep bass drums to high bells, and employing the piano and its string as a percussive instrument. The music of Preisaitė Philipp Percussomnia flows organically and the freely improvised pieces suggest cohesive textures, as instant compositions.

«Swamp» focuses on disorienting and restless, resonating rhythmic patterns, almost like twisted dance moves. «Dyb» has a mysterious, spacious atmosphere and shifts from a hypnotic, meditative ritual into a tension-filled, cinematic soundscape. Both pieces were re-edited to highlight and reflectPreisaitė and Philipp’s shared musical DNA while combining the natural development of the live performance with the precision of studio production. A promising and intriguing work.

Eyal Hareuveni

Gintė Preisaitė (prepared piano), Jan Philipp (drums, percussion)